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Friday, June 10, 2011

Hurray For Hollywood!

I found an interesting little tidbit from recent history, I thought I'd share. Time magazine reported back in January 1959 about how Hollywood had blacklisted 150 screenwriters because they'd found solace with Communism, endorsing and espousing every aspect of this form of government.

Well it turns out during the Oscar award ceremony that year, the movie The Brave One captured the honors for best writer. When one Robert Rich was called to the stage, no one came forth! Odd, because the Oscar award is the epitome of excellence in the industry.

As history tells us the hunt for this mysterious writer was on, it turns out Robert Rich was a pseudonym the blacklisted writers used to continue working their craft. The real award winner was Dalton Trumbo, one of the original "Hollywood Ten" who refused to testify before Congress during the 1947 hearings on Communism in the movie industry.

Here's the irony...Those same writers who coddled Communism and had disguised their identities so they may continue to prosper in a capitalistic system; would not have been allowed to freely continue their craft under the throws of Communism. I dare say their creation of a pseudo ghost writer would have landed them in prison. The profits they sought would have been property of the state. As dissenters of the government, they'd have never found employment, nor would they have been allowed to have the individual freedom fostered by this country to express themselves on screen.

I can't help but wonder if those in our society today who promote socialistic principles understand what they'd have to sacrifice?